Suddenly, the sound of knocking on the room's door echoed.
Lavinia raised her eyebrows in surprise — who could that be?
She stepped forward slowly and opened the door, only to find Mikel standing there, something different in his eyes… as if, for the first time, he had come in a polite manner.
She said to herself sarcastically:
"Since when does Mikel knock on the door?! Usually, he just walks in as if my room belongs to him!"
She looked at him coldly, her expression showing clear annoyance.
"What do you want?" she asked icily.
He answered with an honest tone:
"I came… to talk to you about Mira!!"
She laughed mockingly, raising her hand in boredom:
"Ah, Mira? Pffft! Are you joking? Go to her, I think she needs you more than I do."
Mikel sighed, then said in a more serious tone:
"I knew everything, about her jealousy of you… and about her love for me."
Her eyes widened, while he continued speaking:
"I used to see her imitate you in everything… the same hairstyle, the same bag color, even the same gestures and way of laughing."
A scene from memory flashed before him:
Mira staring at Lavinia's back in the schoolyard, and the next day appearing in the exact same outfit and shoes, mimicking her way of talking to the teachers, even copying her handwriting in her notebook.
"If you knew, then why were you with her?! And why did you look at me back then with all that hatred?!"
Mikel put his hand on his head and suddenly laughed:
"Ah, damn it…! I thought I was sending clear signals! My looks, my words — all of it was an act… and you were dumb enough not to notice. You know I've never cared about any girl in that way before."
Then he lightly tapped her on the head and said:
"Troublemaker. I needed more time to expose Mira's game in front of everyone. But you beat me to it!"
She looked at him with a smile, holding her head:
"Ah! You haven't changed at all!"
He entered the room without permission, as usual, and sat comfortably on the bed. Then he noticed the photo album on the table.
He reached out and opened it before she could stop him.
"Huh?… Empty? Did you just buy it?"
She gasped, then screamed and snatched the album from him with lightning speed:
"Don't touch it!!"
He raised an eyebrow in confusion:
"What's wrong with you? It's just an empty photo book!"
She pushed him in the chest to shove him out of the room:
"Come on, get out of here!"
He sighed as he walked out:
"Yeah, yeah, I get it… But tell me, what's your relationship with the new student? Does every new student become your friend?!"
She replied proudly, putting her hand on her waist:
"Of course! Who doesn't know me? I'm the star! The beautiful! The smart! The amazing!..."
He interrupted sarcastically:
"Oh right, and how come you haven't been awarded the Nobel Prize yet?!"
A childish, funny quarrel began. Lavinia pushed his shoulder, and he pushed back lightly. The two exchanged teasing and laughter, while their mother listened from the kitchen, smiling fondly:
"Oh my… they remind me exactly of my own childhood."
Lavinia lay on her bed, hugging the album tightly in her arms.
"Why can't others see it… only me? Is it because this fate belongs to me? Or is this album mine alone?"
She opened the album slowly… and was stunned.
Everything had changed.
The school had become bright again… full of life, just like before.
Mira's pictures had disappeared from beside Mikel — even from beside her own.
In their place, Lavinia's photos had started to change…
With Fred… with Rocky…
As for Mikel, he only appeared in a few pictures, as if fate itself was slowly lowering his importance in her life.
---
The next morning
She entered the school with confident steps.
Smiles from everyone… whispers, attempts to get close.
Everyone gathered around her, offering help, greeting her, some even complimenting her outfit… but Lavinia paid them no attention.
As for Mira…
She walked alone, avoiding everyone's eyes, chased by rumors:
"Did you hear? Mira stole another girl's boyfriend!"
"She thinks she's smart, but she's just a cheap copy of Lavinia!"
"Damn her… she's just an evil girl pretending to be innocent!"
Everyone drifted away from her… even her friends.
In the courtyard
She saw Fred standing under a tree, reading a book.
She ran toward him quickly, her eyes full of questions — and surprised him… with a big hug!
"I did it! I changed the first fate!"
"If I can change it… then I can avoid betrayal, avoid death!"
Fred's eyes widened; he stood frozen like stone, while everyone in the courtyard witnessed the shocking scene!
He immediately pulled her to a secluded spot behind the building and said:
"Are you crazy?! Hugging me like that in front of everyone?!"
She replied coldly:
"Why not?! I hug Mikel too… sometimes!"
He shouted, putting his hand on his head:
"What will the fans think?! They'll think we're dating!! I don't want any misunderstandings!"
She burst out laughing:
"Who would date an old man anyway?!"
"You're rude!"
"And you're arrogant!"
A playful argument broke out between them, like two kids in kindergarten.
Fake kicks, exaggerated expressions, and continuous laughter.
Until one of the teachers passed by and said:
"What are you two doing?! This is a school, not an amusement park!"
---
In the classroom
Lavinia returned to her class, and all eyes were on her.
"What's your relationship with Fred?!"
"Are you two dating?!"
"Is that mysterious student your friend?!"
But she ignored them completely, sat in her seat with pride, rested her chin on her hand, and said:
"I have admirers, and I'm not obligated to explain!"
The teacher entered and began the lesson…
But Lavinia started yawning and doodling in her notebook.
The teacher noticed and shouted:
"You, Lavinia! To the board, now!"
She stood hesitantly, walked slowly to the board. He looked at her and said:
"Here's the equation. Solve it!"
She froze in place, blinking several times:
"Uh… this one?… It's like… an alien creature, I don't understand it!"
Everyone burst into laughter, while the teacher raised his notebook and said:
"Is my subject a joke to you?!"
She replied, stepping back:
"No, I just… find it hard to understand these equations!"
The teacher sighed, placing his hand on his head:
"Why are you this stupid… you don't even pay attention to my lessons."
She put her hands behind her hair:
"Hahaha, sorry!"
The bell rang, and Lavinia quietly left the classroom…
But suddenly, she found herself surrounded by three people:
Mikel on one side, Rocky on the other, and Fred standing right in front of her!
Each of them was holding her hand or shoulder, trying to take her with him.
"Come with me, you promised we'd eat together!" said Rocky.
"No, we have a match today, and you said you'd cheer for me!" shouted Mikel.
"Oh, did you both forget she's coming with me to the library? We have a reading session, remember?" said Fred proudly.
The students began staring at them while Lavinia, caught in the middle, was being pulled in all directions!
"Ah! I'm not a toy — let go of meeee!"
Then Lavinia suddenly woke up in class, screaming:
"Ah, let go—!"
She looked forward to see the math teacher glaring at her in anger and annoyance.
Across the room, Mikel looked at her in confusion:
"Wh-what's wrong with you…"
And Rocky burst out laughing at her, followed by laughter from the rest of the class.
The teacher started shouting at Lavinia:
"Lavinia! Haven't I told you that my class isn't for sleeping?!"
"But the… the class wasn't over yet!"